Lighting fixture



July 19, 1949. c. H. BISSELL ET AL v LIGHTING FIXTURE -Filed April 24, 1946 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 9, 1949. c. H. BISSELL ET AL 2,476,352

LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed April 24, 946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 \ull'lllllllP m nnu ll III .I I I Filed April 24, 1946 Q 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 19, 194-9. c. H. BISSELL ET AL 2,

LIGHTING FIXTURE III! 7 5e 7 I 9.1 1 I I BY I2XENTORS.

' ATTUFNEYS,

u y 1949. c. H. BISSELL ET AL 2,476,352 I LIGHTING FIXTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 24, 1946 I INVENTORSI J BY W ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 19, 1949 UNIT so STATES PATENT orFic LIGHTING FIXTURE cairn, Bissell' and Ray F. Lester, Syracuse, N. Y., a's'signorsto Grouse-Hinds company, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Kpplication April 24, 1946, Serial No. 664,472

7 Claims.

This invention rel'a'tes'to an explosion resisting lighting fixture of the type employing afluorescent tube as a lightsour'ce.

The invention has as an object a lighting fixture of the type referred to suitable for installation in hazardous locations; and which involves a structure that is particularly economical to manufacture, and convenient to install.

The invention has as a further object a structure which permits theme of aplurality of fluorescent tubes in the-fixture, and by which the in"- dividual fluorescent tube enclosing units may be moved out-of normal parallel'relation'ship to permit the units to be relamp'ed and, at the same time, to permit the lighting fixtures to be mounted end to end in close relationship.

The invention consists-in-the novel features and in the combinations" and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawingsin' whichlike characters designate corresponding parts in all the views. v

Figure 1 is a top'plan view o'f a lighting fixture embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view, looking to the left Figure 1, with parts shown in section, the section being taken on Ii'neZ -Z, Figure '1,

Figure 3 is a lengthwise s'eetional'view taken substantially on the center'o'f one of the fluores cent tube enclosing unitsi Figure 4 is an endeleVatidnai view of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 1,'lool 'ing'to the right.

Figure 5 is a sectional v'iewofone' oi the transparent tube end members and contiguous' portio'n of the tube. V

Figure 6 is a sideelevational view" of a modified structure.

Figure 7 is an endeievational'v-iew'lookingto the left, Figure 6. g 1

Figure 8 is an endelevatio'n'al view looking to the right, Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a view, similar toFi'gur'eB, illustrat ing the arrangement when-four fluorescent'tube's are employed.-

Figure 10 is a'nende1evational view looking t6 the left, Figure 6, the fixture includ'ihg rourfiuo rescent tubes.

Figure 11 is a f-ragmentarysectional viewtaken substantially on line I ll I, Figure-s:

The deviceconsists of a housing 211 which is shown as'of general cylindrical" formation, and provided with meansfor' attachment to a conduitline, as an i nternally'threaded boss 2|, to receive,

the conduit 22 whichdepends from the conduit 4 members, as illustrated in' connection with end line 23. The" function of the housing ZIl istb house the transformer or ballast equipment used in connection with the operation of uorescent lighting tubes, the housing being provided with openings in the ends thereof which are closedb'y plugs 24' threaded" into the endsof the; housing. The housing is also provided with an aperture 25 in one sidewall, through which conductorsiflfl,

extend. I a v I l g,

The fluorescent tube" 30 arrangedin a-tubular member 3| formed'of glass,"or other light trans"- mitting material; A' hollow end member 32" is sealed to one end of thetubular member 3|", as'at 33. The outer wall 'of theend member is formed with an access opening arranged in register with the tube 30 and threaddinternally, as at 34,130 receive a closure35'; The endmember 32' is piv otally secured to the housing ZlIasbY a connecting member 36- shown in" the form of an externally threaded nipple,'onef end" of which threads intb the top wall of the end member '32, andthe' op,- posite end threading into the side Wall" of the housing 20, wherebythe end member 32'is secured to the housing 20" in flametig'ht relation thereto, and theen'd member, together with the tubular member extending outwardly therefrom, may be rotated about theaxiso i' the connecting member 36.

An end member 38 is s'ealedto' the oppositeend of the tubular member 3], as at 39', and is alSb provided with an access opening in theouter wall in register with the fluorescent tube 30' arid threaded internally, as at 40 to receive a'pliig or closure 4|. v I I A conduit 44 extends between" the endmem'bers 32, 38, and communicates with the interiors there?- of. The connectingmember' 36 and'the" aperture 25 form a passage throughwhich the conductors 2B, 21, extend from' the" interior of thefballast housing 20130 the interior oftheendmember 321 ,Q

A terminal block 46 is'mounte'd in each of the end members 32, 38, and provided with contacts engaging the contacts on the ends of the mares: cent tube 30. The purpose of' the conduit A l" is to enclose the'branchconductors extending" ti) the contacts inthe end member 38 tothe interior of end member 32; It may, at one end be threaded into one of the'end'membe'rs, sue as the and member" 32; or bothends of the 'cbndu1t may slidably engage aperturesformed 'in'the ehd member 33.

It win be understood that the length of the fluorescent tube 30" will vary" in" accordance w- H the Wattage of the fixture'andaccordingly; tie

' length of the transparent tubularmemBerN and the conduct 44 is determined by the length of the fluorescent tube 30 used in the fixture. When longer tubes are used, it is desirable to provide means for supporting the outer end member 38. To provide such support, a bracket 60 is carried by a rod 6| depending from the conduit line 23, or ceiling of the room, and extends transversely above the end members 38.

As illustrated in Figures 1, to 3, the fixture is designed to employ two fluorescent tubes and there are accordingly two tubular members 3| and likewise, two pairs of end members 32 and 38. With this arrangement, the outer ends of the bracket 60 are bifurcated to receive screws 63 threading into the top wall of the end members 38 and by which the end members are detachably secured to the bracket.

In order to obtain proper lighting effects, it is desirable to mount fluorescent tube fixtures end to end and in close proximity. With the structure described, each fluorescent tube enclosing unit, including the light transmitting tubular members 3| and the end members carried thereby, may be swung about the vertical axis of the connecting members 38 to the dotted line position shown at 65, Figure 1. The closure 4! may be then removed together with the terminal block 48 and the fluorescent tube 30 withdrawn and a new one inserted, the terminal block and the closure ll replaced, the unit swung back into parallel relationship and secured by the screw 63. The terminal blocks 46 may be mounted upon a cross member 68, the ends of which are apertured to receive screws 61 threading into the adjacent wall of the end member 3238, the terminal blocks being yieldingly urged into engagement with the end of the fluorescent tube 30 by compression springs 68 acting between the heads of the screws 6'! and the mounting member 65.

In Figures 8 to 11, the housing 29 and the supporting bracket are modified slightly so that more than two fluorescent tubes may be employed in the fixture. The end members 32 are pivotally connected to hub members l detachably secured to the side wall of the housing 29, as by screws H. The hubs H3 are hollow, or formed with an aperture extending therethrough, the outer end of which is internally threaded to receive the connecting member 36 with its axis extending parallel to the axis of the housing 26. That is, in

horizontal position. This arrangement permits the outer end of the fluorescent tube units to be moved vertically out of parallel and horizontal relationship, as indicated by the dotted outline 14, Figure 6, and with this arrangement three,

four, or more, fluorescent tube units may be incorporated in the fixture.

The supporting bracket 60, shown in connection with this arrangement, includes a trans- Versely extending tube on which arms 78 are journalled, one of such arms being provided for each fluorescent tube unit. A pair of links 13 are pivotally connected at one end to the arm l8, and at its opposite end to the end member 38. A second pair of links 80 are also pivotally connected at one end to the end member 38, and is provided at its opposite end with means to engage an outwardly extending boss 8i formed on the arm 78. This pair of links 80, when the upper end thereof is engaged upon the boss 8|, serves to maintain the toggle formed by the arm 18 and links (9 closed, and to maintain the end member 38 in proximity to the tube 75 or, in other words, to maintain the fluorescent tube unit in horizontal position.

When it is desired to relamp the unit, the free end of the link is disengaged from the projection 81, whereupon the toggle is permitted to straighten out and the end member 38 to move downwardly away from the bracket to the dotted outline position 14, Figure 6, whereupon the fluorescent tube may be removed and a new one inserted, as previously explained.

What we claim is:

1. An explosion resisting fluorescent lighting fixture comprising a housing formed with an aperture in one wall thereof and provided with means for connection to a conduit line, a hollow hub member detachably secured to the housing in flame tight relation thereto and in register with the aperture in the side wall thereof, a tubular member formed of light transmitting material, a hollow end member sealed to each end of said tubular member, and each of said end members being formed with an access opening in register with said tubular member, a terminal block mounted in each of said end members and having contacts engageable with the contacts on the ends of a fluorescent tube mounted in said member, a conduit extending between said end members and communicating with the interiors thereof, a closure for the access opening of each end member and being detachably secured thereto in flametight relation therewith, a connecting member pivotally connecting one of said end members to said hub member on a horizontal axis, said connecting member being formed with an aperture extending axially therethrough and which, in conjunction with said hub member and the aperture in the side wall of the housing, forms a passage for conductors leading from the interior of the housing to the interior of said end member.

2. An explosion resisting fluorescent lighting fixture comprising a housing formed with an aperture in one wall thereof and provided with means for connection to a conduit line, a hollow hub member detachably secured to the housing in flametight relation thereto and in register with the aperture in the side wall thereof, a tubular member formed of light transmitting material, a hollow end member sealed to each end of said tubular member, and each of said end members being formed with an access opening in register with said tubular member, a terminal block mounted in each of said end members and having contacts engageable with the contacts on the ends of a fluorescent tube mounted in said member, a conduit extending between said end members and communicating with the interiors thereof, a closure for the access opening of each end member and being detachably secured thereto in flametight relation therewith, a connecting member pivotally connecting one of said end members to said hub member on a horizontal axis, said connecting member being formed with an aperture extending axially therethrough and which, in conjunction with said hub member and the aperture in the side wall of the housing, forms a passage for conductors leading from the interior of the housing to the interior of said end member, and a sealing medium arranged in said hub member about said conductors and effective to seal ofi the interior of the housing from the interior of said end member.

3. An explosion resisting fluorescent lighting fixture comprising a housing provided with means for connection to a conduit line, a plurality of end members pivotally connected to said housing in flametight relation thereto, a transparent tubular member sealed at one end to each of said end members, and a hollow end member secured to the opposite free end of each of said tubular members, said end members being formed with access openings in register with said tubular members, a terminal block mounted in each of said end members and arranged to support a fluorescent lighting tube in each of said tubular members, a conduit connecting the pair of end members carried by each tubular member and communicating with the interiors thereof, a bracket adapted to support the end members secured to the free ends of said tubular members with said tubular members extending in parallel relationship, and means for detachably connecting said end members to said bracket, whereby said tubular members may be moved about their respective pivots out of said parallel relation.

4. An explosion resisting fluorescent lighting fixture comprising a housing provided with means for connection to a conduit line, a plurality of end members pivotally connected to said housing on a horizontal axis in flametight relation thereto, a transparent tubular member sealed at one end to each of said end members, and a hollow end member secured to the opposite free end of each of said tubular members, said end members being formed with access openings in register with said tubular members, a terminal block mounted in each of said end members and arranged to support a fluorescent lighting tube in each of said tubular members, a conduit connecting the pair of end members carried by each tubular member and communicating with the interiors thereof, a bracket adapted to support the end members secured to the free ends of said tubular members with said tubular members extending in parallel relationship, fastening means cooperable with each of said end members and said bracket to maintain said tubular members in horizontal parallel relationship, and being operable to permit said end members to move downwardly from said bracket, whereby said tubular members may be moved about their respective pivots out of said parallel relation.

5. An explosion resisting fluorescent lighting fixture comprising a housing provided with means for connection to a conduit line, a plurality of end members pivotally connected to said housing on a horizontal axis in flametight relation thereto, a transparent tubular member sealed at one end to each of said end members, and a hollow end member secured to the opposite free end of each of said tubular members, said end members being formed with access openings in register with said tubular members, a terminal block mounted in each of said end members and arranged to support a fluorescent lighting tube in each of said tubular members, a conduit connecting the pair of end members carried by each tubular member and communicating with the interiors thereof, a bracket adapted to support the end members secured to the free ends of said tubular members with said tubular members extending in parallel relationship, fastening means cooperable in one position with each of said end members and said bracket to maintain said tubular members in horizontal parallel relationship, and being operable to permit said end members to move downwardly from said bracket and to support said end members in such downward position.

6. An explosion resisting fluorescent lighting fixture comprising a housing formed with an aperture in one wall thereof and provided with means for connection to a conduit line, a tubular member formed of light transmitting material, a hollow end member sealed in flametight relation to each end of said tubular member, one of said hollow members being formed with an access opening in register with said tubular member, a closure detachably secured to said opening in flametight relation thereto, a terminal block mounted in each of said end members and having contacts engageable with the contacts on the ends of a fluorescent tube mounted in said tubular member, a conduit extending between said end members and communicating with the interiors thereof, the ends of said conduit engaging said members in flametight relation thereto, and a portion of said conduit having free axial movement relative to one of said end members, means pivotally connecting one of said end members in flametight relation to said housing, said means being formed with a passageway arranged in register with the aperture in the side wall of the housing and forming a passage for conductors leading from the interior of said housing to the interior of said end member, a bracket detachably secured to said other end member whereby said tubular member may be moved about the axis of said pivotal connecting means.

7. An explosion resisting fluorescent lighting fixture comprising a housing formed with an aperture in one wall thereof and provided with means for connection to a conduit line, a tubular member formed of light transmitting material, a hollow end member sealed in flametight relation to each end of said tubular member, one of said hollow members being formed with an access opening in register with said tubular member, a closure detachably secured to said opening in flametight relation thereto, a terminal block mounted in each of said end members and having contacts engageable with the contacts on the ends of a fluorescent tube mounted in said tubular member, a conduit extending between said end members and communicating with the interiors thereof, the ends of said conduit engaging said members in flametight relation thereto, and a portion of said conduit having free axial movement relative to one of said end members, means pivotally connecting one of said end members in flametight relation to said housing, said connecting means being arranged in register with the aperture in the wall of said housing and forming an enclosed passageway for conductors leading from the interior of the housing to the interior of said end member, means positioned in said passageway and effective to seal oil the interior of the housing from the interior of said end memher, a bracket detachably secured to said other end member whereby said tubular member may be moved about the axis of said pivotal connectmg means.

CARL H. BISSELL. RAY F. LESTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 716,595 Taussig Dec. 23, 1902 2,318,536 Stern May 4, 1943 2,392,202 Tornblom Jan. 1, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 480,774 Germany Aug. 9, 1929 

